Standing Buddha
Burma
Pagan period, 12th–13th century
Bronze with silver inlay; H. 19 7/8 in. (50.5cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Gift of Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation, 1993 (1993.235.1)

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Marco Polo traveled through the Pagan kingdom, which he called Mien and is now Myanmar (Burma) and was founded in the 11th century. Marco’s arrival followed two centuries of active political rule and an ambitious campaign of spectacular temple construction. In fact, the Pagan kings devoted such a large portion of the country’s resources to building Buddhist temples and study centers that they were too weak to resist the devastating Mongol attacks in 1287.

Eventually, after more than two decades abroad, the Polos wished to return home. They began to beg Khubilai Khan for permission to leave, but he refused. Finally, an opportunity arose when the Great Khan was asked by Ilkhan Arghun (r. 1284–91) to send him a princess to marry. It was agreed that the Polos would escort Princess Kökijin in 1291 to Iran, and so they prepared to leave China.